The purpose of this MA thesis is to examine the connection between the two literary revivals that emerged in Ireland towards the end of the 19 th century (namely, the Irish literary revival and the Gaelic literary revival), by comparing major works of the two seminal authors of their respective movements: John Millington Synge (In the Shadow of the Glen, The Playboy of the Western World, The Tinker’s Wedding, The Well of the Saints, Riders to the Sea, Aran Islands) and Pádraic Ó Conaire (Exile, The Finest Stories).
The thesis confirms the similarities between the two authors regarding European literary influences (Late Romanticism, Social Realism, Naturalism, Modernism), their treatment of social issues, common themes, and protagonist types. Despite the movements were revolved around separate languages and concept of Irishness, the thesis successfully draws parallels between the Irish literary revival and the nativist and progressive strands of Gaelic literary revival.
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